Research Lines

This line of research includes studies of floral biology, pollination mechanisms, reproductive systems and phenology, intending to enhance knowledge of plant-animal interactions and the effectiveness of natural resource management.

PROJECTS

Floral and Reproductve Biology of the Angiosperms with emphasis on plant-animal interactions – Dr. Heloisa Alves de Lima Carvalho, Dr. Bárbara de Sá-Haiad, Dr. Lygia Dolores Ribeiro de Santiago Fernandes & Dr. Vânia Gonçalves Lourenço Esteves

Encompasses studies of floral biology, pollination mechanisms, reproductive systems and phenology of angiosperms, in order to enhance knowledge of plant-animal interactions and support conservation initiatives.

Comprises phytosociological, phytogeographical and interspecies interactions of species in remnant fragments of native vegetation of Brazilian ecosystems, aiming to support conservation and management of natural resources.

PROJECTS

Floristic studies on Brazilian ecosystems, with emphasis on the Southeast Region – r. Rosana Conrado Lopes, Dr. Andrea Ferreira da Costa, Dr. Cássia Mônica Sakuragui, Dr. Genise Vieira Somner, Dr. Jorge Fontella Pereira, Dr. José Fernando Andrade Baumgratz, Dr. Marcelo Trovó Lopes de Oliveira & Dr. Ruy José Válka Alves

Studies of the flora of different ecosystems, through floristic inventories, producing regional floras.

Studies of insular and montane vegetation with emphasis on southeastern Brazil – Dr. Ruy José Válka Alves & Dr. Mariângela Menezes

Studies of the floras, structure and dynamics of remnants of insular and montane vegetation in meadows (vegetação campestre) and Cerrado.

Encompasses anatomical studies of embryophyte vegetative and reproductive axes as well as pollen morphology, aiming to characterize species and taxonomic groups, characterize functional aspects, and support taxonomic and phylogenetic analyses.

PROJECTS

Anatomy of vegetative organs – r. Ricardo Cardoso Vieira, Dr. Bárbara de Sá-Haiad, Dr. Ana Claudia de Macêdo Vieira, Dr. Andrea Ferreira da Costa & Dr. Lana da Silva Sylvestre

Studies on the morphology and anatomy of Angiosperm plant organs, providing support for taxonomy and the interpretation of environmental effects.

Structure and development of the Embryophyte reproductive axis – Dr. Lygia Dolores Ribeiro de Santiago-Fernandes, Dr. Heloisa Alves de Lima Carvalho & Dr. Bárbara de Sá Haiad

Studies of the anatomy and development of flowers, fertilization, and development of the embryo, seed and fruit.

Palynology and palynotaxonomy – Dr. Vânia Gonçalves-Esteves & Dr. Claudia Barbieri Ferreira Mendonça

Studies of pollen grains and spores in order to recognize pollen and spore types, to support various applications of palynology as well as taxonomy of groups.

Encompasses studies of Cryptogams in continental and marine environments, including algae, bryophytes, ferns and fern allies, dealing with taxonomic and floristic aspects as well as the structure and dynamics of their environments.

PROJECTS

Brazilian coastal phytobenthic communities with emphasis on the Southeastern region: floristic inventory, flora, ecology and biology of marine macroalgae – Dr. Maria Beatriz Barbosa de Barros Barreto & Dr. Maria Tereza Menezes de Széchy

Studies the rocky coastal communities of the Brazilian shoreline, with emphasis on the Southeastern region, where marcoalgae are dominant, using manifold approaches dealing with taxonomy, characterization of populations of ecological interest and community structure in distinct environments.Studies the rocky coastal communities of the Brazilian shoreline, with emphasis on the southeastern region where macroalgae are dominant, using several approaches dealing with taxonomy, characterization of populations of ecological interest, and community structure in different environments.

Ecology of Phytoplankton of natural lakes and rivers – Dr. Lúcia Helena Sampaio da Silva e& Dr. Vera Lúcia de Moraes Huszar

Studies of phytoplankton associations in continental lotic and lentic natural environments, using floristic composition and biomass analyses of these communities, seeking knowledge about their adaptive strategies, spatial and temporal distribution, and the factors that regulate the dominant associations.

Ecology of Reservoir Phytoplankton –  Dr. Lúcia Helena Sampaio da Silva, Dr. Vera Lúcia de Moraes Huszar & Dr. Mariângela Menezes

This project aims to enhance knowledge of the spatial and temporal dynamics of reservoir phytoplankton, using analysis of community fluctuations as a response to regional climate and geology, morphometrics, hydrological cycle, water residence time, height of water catchment, and several physical and chemical variables of the water. Herbivory by zooplankton and fish as well as interspecies competition of the phytoplankton are also important aspects for understanding phytoplankton in reservoirs.

Brazilian epicontinental, coastal and marine Microalgae, with emphasis on the Southeastern Region – Dr. Mariângela Menezes, Dr. Fabiano Salgueiro & Dr. Vera Lucia de Moraes Huszar

Studies flora, taxonomy, evolution, phylogenetics and biogeography of Brazilian epicontinental, coastal and marine microalgae, using diverse morphological, chemical, toxicological and molecular analyses, generating support for knowledge, conservation and management of Brazil’s natural resources.

Taxonomy and ecology of Neotropical ferns and fern allies – Dr. Lana da Silva Sylvestre, Dr. Maria Beatriz Barbosa de Barros Barreto & Dr. Adriana Quintella Lobão

Involves taxonomic studies of Neotropical ferns and fern allies, generating identification keys, taxa descriptions and illustrations, and establishing their phylogenetic affinities. Conducts floristic inventories of ferns and fern allies occurring in different areas and ecosystems, especially in Rio de Janeiro State, allowing analyses of phytogeography and conservation initiatives.

Bryophyte taxonomy and ecology – Dr. Nívea Dias dos Santos

Involves taxonomic studies of different groups of neotropical bryophytes, through development of identification keys, taxa descriptions and illustrations, as well as studies of their phylogenetic relationships. Conducts floristic surveys of bryophytes occurring in different areas or ecosystems, allowing phytogeographic and conservation analyses.

Covers taxonomic, phylogenetic, phytogeographic and phylogeographic studies of Angiosperms, with the use of morphological and genome data, aiming to understand evolutionary patterns and processes of the diverse Brazilian flora. Includes floristic-taxonomic studies in conservation units and Brazilian states, to develop the Flora do Brasil 2020.

PROJECTS

Taxonomic and systematic studies of Basal Angiosperms and Monocotyledons – Dr. Andrea Ferreira da Costa, Dr. Adriana Quintella Lobão, Dr. Cassia Mônica Sakuragui, Dr. Fabiano Salgueiro, Dr. José Fernando Andrade Baumgratz, Dr. Luci de Senna-Valle, Dr. Marcelo Trovó Lopes de Oliveira, Dr. Rosana Conrado Lopes, Dr. Ruy José Válka Alves, Dr. Tânia Wendt & Dr. Vânia Gonçalves Lourenço Esteves

Studies morphological and genetic variability in order to solve problems of species-complex delimitation, and conducts taxonomic treatments of Basal Angiosperm and Monocotyledon families, comprising identification keys, taxa descriptions and illustrations, as well as their phylogenetic relationships. Conducts floristic surveys in different areas or ecosystems, allowing phytogeographic and conservation analyses.

Taxonomic and systematic studies of Asterids – Dr. Cassia Mônica Sakuragui, Dr. Adriana Quintella Lobão, Dr. Genise Vieira Somner, Dr. Jorge Fontella Pereira, Dr. Marcelo Trovó Lopes de Oliveira, Dr. Rosana Conrado Lopes & Dr. Ruy José Válka Alves

Studies the morphological and genetic variability and the taxonomy of different groups of asterids, including identification keys, taxa descriptions and illustrations, as well as their phylogenetic relationships. Conducts floristic surveys in different areas or ecosystems, allowing phytogeographic and conservation analyses.

Taxonomic and systematic studies of Rosids – Dr. José Fernando Andrade Baumgratz, Dr. Andrea Ferreira da Costa, Dr. Cassia Mônica Sakuragui, Dr. Fabiano Salgueiro, Dr. Genise Vieira Somner, Dr. Luci de Senna-Valle & Dr. Ruy José Válka Alves

Studies the morphological and genetic variability and the taxonomy of different groups of rosids, including identification keys, taxa descriptions and illustrations, as well as their phylogenetic relationships. Conducts floristic surveys in different areas or ecosystems, allowing phytogeographic and conservation analyses. Produces taxonomic revisions, data for taxa distribution patterns, and hypotheses of taxonomic affinity.

Systematics of vascular plants of Brazilian continental aquatic ecosystems – Dr. Claudia Petean Bove, Dr. Vânia Gonçalves Lourenço Esteves & Dr. Claudia Barbieri Ferreira Mendonça

Studies the systematics of vascular aquatic plants, comprising floristic inventories, morphological studies and phylogenetic analyses, generating taxonomic revisions, identification keys and geographical distribution patterns.

Covers multidisciplinary studies that integrate the contributions of anthropology and botany, emphasizing interactions between human societies and plants. Includes studies of traditional uses of plants by humans.

PROJECT

Ethnobotanical studies in traditional Brazilian communities – Dr. Luci de Senna-Valle, Dr. Cássia Mônica Sakuragui & Dr. Rosana Conrado Lopes

Encompasses studies on the identification, uses and applications of traditional knowledge of plants in rural, Pomeranian, quilombola and indigenous communities, as well as phytochemical aspects related to the validation of the use of these plants.

Historical Ethnobotany – Dr. Luci de Senna-Valle

Encompasses studies on the rescue of plant information left by institutions or persons of historical influence in Botany and related areas. Developed through records preserved in textual and iconographic sources, these studies aim to contribute to the historical knowledge of Brazilian plant diversity, by recovering and making available to Brazil and to the world, data and images of useful plants.

The purpose of this line of research is the curatorship of biological collections and training of qualified specialists in the management of biological collections through preparation, preservation, restoration, informatization, digitization and diagnostics of the holdings.

PROJECT

The Museu Nacional Herbarium: two centuries of history and science – Dr. Andrea Ferreira da Costa, Dr. Ruy José Válka Alves, Dr. Luci de Senna Valle, Dr. Mariângela Menezes, Dr. Claudia Petean Bove, Dr. Jorge Fontella Pereira & Dr. Lana da Silva Sylvestre

This project has the purpose of restoration, informatization, digitization, online provision and diagnostics of the holdings of the Herbarium of the Museu Nacional (acronym R), one of the oldest and most important in Latin America. The herbarium is a member of the “INCT-Herbário Virtual da Flora e dos Fungos do Brasil” and “SiB-Br (Sistema sobre Biodiversidade Brasileira, MCTI)” initiatives. The herbarium is and has been active in training qualified specialists at the graduate level, and has been supported, for instance, by public granting agencies such as FAPERJ and CNPq.